Learn more about common health concerns

The care we provide our patients is not limited to a hospital stay. Our IU Health team aims to provide patients with the assistance to pay bills online, fill a prescription, request medical records, enroll in clinical trials, prepare for a visit, and much more.

Indiana University Health Saxony Hospital provides heart care for adults through some of the most technologically advanced testing and procedures available. We provide patients a combination of clinical expertise, plus skilled cardiovascular physicians and staff.

Our team of multidisciplinary specialists, including cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and clinical specialists, collaborates to deliver the most advanced treatment options, caring for patients with common problems to the most complex. Constant communication among our team members and with your family ensures everyone is informed at every stage of your care.

We are proud of the many IU Health cardiovascular innovations and ongoing research that impact patients throughout the state, nation and world. Our heart care specialists have accomplished many “firsts,” including:

First open-heart surgery in Indiana

First private hospital in the world to perform a heart transplant

First artificial heart surgery in Indiana

First heart-lung transplant in Indiana

First robotic mitral valve heart repair in Indiana

First virtual catheterization lab in the Midwest

First Stereotaxis Magnetic Navigation procedure in Indiana

First single center to publish results of systemic thrombolytic therapy

Balloon Angioplasty and Stents

Balloon angioplasty is a medical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked blood vessels of the heart. This is done by using a long, thin tube (catheter) with a small balloon on the tip. Doctors insert the catheter into the affected artery and inflate the balloon. This presses the plaque against the artery wall and allows blood to flow more freely.

Stents are small, mesh tubes placed in narrow or blocked arteries to keep them open. A stent procedure often coincides with balloon angioplasty.

Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization involves passing a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) into the right or left side of the heart to get information about the organ or its blood vessels or to provide treatment in certain types of heart conditions.

Cardioversion

Cardioversion is a method to restore a rapid heartbeat back to a normal rate. It is used in patients who have arrhythmias or heart rhythm problems which can cause the heart to beat too fast. Cardioversion can be done using electric shock (electric cardioversion) or medicines (pharmacologic cardioversion).

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a device designed to quickly detect a life-threatening, rapid heartbeat coming from the bottom chamber of the heart. It tries to convert an abnormal rhythm back to normal by delivering an electrical shock to the heart. This action is called defibrillation. An ICD can prevent sudden cardiac death.

Pacemaker Insertion

A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that helps the heart beat regularly and at an appropriate rate. The device is implanted under the skin and is attached to the heart with wires called leads.

Valve Repair/Replacement

Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves. Valve repair involves a surgical procedure in which a damaged valve is repaired by loosening stiff valve leaflets or tightening loose valve leaflets. During valve replacement, a mechanical or tissue valve is transplanted into the heart to replace the damaged valve.

This structured inpatient and outpatient program helps patients with specific cardiac diseases and/or procedures recover more quickly and completely through monitored or supervised exercise programming and cardiac-specific education classes. There is also a phase of the cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program designed to prevent the occurrence or re-occurrence of heart disease.

Cardiac rehabilitation benefits patients who have recovered or are recovering from heart or vascular conditions or procedures, such as:

Provide you and your family with the support and motivation you need to make important lifestyle changes

Cardiac rehabilitation has a three-phase approach that begins in the hospital and continues throughout recovery:

Phase I. While in the hospital, our Phase I cardiac rehab staff will direct your early-activity program. We will teach you about the recovery process and tell you how to reduce your future risk of heart problems.

Phase II. Soon after you leave the hospital, you can enter the outpatient Phase II cardiac rehab program. The hallmarks of phase II are electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, close staff-to-patient interaction and weekly education classes. The length of time you participate in the Phase II program will be determined by your rate of recovery and insurance coverage.

Phase III. Phase III provides a safe, professionally supervised exercise venue within the hospital; it is appropriate for graduates of Phase II cardiac rehab or individuals seeking to manage risk factors or make a healthy change in their life. Phase III cardiac rehab maintenance programs are not typically covered by insurance; however, we strive to keep our pricing affordable and always cover the cost of your parking when you participate.

For more information about the cardiac rehab program, please call 317.678.2000.

The staff of the IU Health Saxony Hospital Level One Heart Attack Program coordinates with referring centers across Northeastern Indiana to transport heart attack patients to IU Health Saxony Hospital. We perform percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI, the preferred heart attack procedure. This is also known as coronary angioplasty or coronary stenting, and we perform the procedure in a specialized cardiac laboratory.

A PCI is performed by inserting a long, thin tube (catheter) with a small balloon on its tip into the affected artery. When the balloon is inflated, it presses the plaque against the artery wall and allows blood to flow more freely. Stents, which are small, mesh tubes, may also be used in conjunction with the balloon to keep the arteries open.

The Level One Heart Attack Program requires a high degree of coordination that starts with personnel who understand the need for a fast response and who can begin immediate medical treatment when the Emergency department physician diagnoses a heart attack.

As the referring center staff stabilizes the patient and prepares him or her for transfer, the Level One staff coordinates air or ground transport to IU Health Saxony Hospital. They also coordinate IU Health Saxony Hospital-based physicians, nurses, chaplains, admissions and security officers to ensure there are no delays. Once at IU Health Saxony Hospital, a specialized team of physicians, nurses and technicians work to open the heart artery.